Development of Nanostructured Poly (<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-toluidine) Reinforced Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Composites

The present work reports the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured poly (o-toluidine) (POT) reinforced epoxy-siloxane (ES) composite resins. The structural elucidation was carried out using FT-IR and UV–visible spectrometry. The FT-IR analysis confirmed the interaction between NH group of the POT and the OH group of ES via strong hydrogen bonding. The UV–visible spectra of POT/ES composites revealed a blue shift of 100 nm in the polaronic transition peak observed at 600 nm in pristine POT, which was attributed to the restriction in the delocalization of polarons in the POT chains due to electrostatic interaction via hydrogen bonding. The nanosize of POT and its dispersion in the ES matrix was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy studies. The particle size was found from 15–35 nm. The morphological studies confirmed the formation of a nanocomposite where POT appeared to act as reinforcing agent in the ES matrix. XRD showed the semi-crystalline nature of POT/ES nanocomposites. The conductivities of POT and its nanocomposites were 10⁻³–10⁻⁴ S/cm at 30 °C. The thermal stability increased with an increase in the loading of POT in ES. The nanocomposites revealed good physico-chemical and physico-mechanical characteristics, which suggests their potential application as corrosion protective coatings.     

A comparative study on camphorsulphonic acid modified montmorillonite clay based conducting polymer nanocomposites

Nanotechnology has emerged as a subject of immense academic interest and excitement in the past few decades. The immediate goal of this science aims at the production of high performance nanomaterials. The present study reports comparative investigations on the in situ polymerization of polyaniline (PANI), and its derivatives poly(1‐naphthylamine) (PNA) and poly(o‐toluidine) (POT) within the camphor sulphonic acid (CSA) modified montmorillonite (MMT) layers. The polymerization as well as intercalation of the conducting polymers was confirmed by FT‐IR, UV‐visible spectroscopies, and XRD studies, whereas the morphology of the nanocomposites was analyzed by TEM studies. It was found that the PANI derivatives (PNA and POT) revealed higher intercalation as compared with PANI. The morphology of nanocomposites was found to be governed by the type of conducting polymer intercalated. A large variation in the morphology as well as particle size was observed between the nanocomposites of PANI and its derivatives. The conductivity was found to be in the range of 10⁻³–10⁻² S·cm⁻¹. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The effect of hemodialysis ultrafiltration on changes in whole blood viscosity

Increased whole blood viscosity (WBV) can be injurious to the vascular endothelium and increase the risk of atherothrombotic events. This study examined the effect of hemodialysis ultrafiltration (UF) on WBV, with a focus on high vs. low‐volume UF patients. In stable hemodialysis patients, blood was drawn for hematocrit (Hct) and WBV at the start, midpoint, and at the end of dialysis. For analysis, patients were divided into high UF (≥2700 mL) or low UF (<2700 mL) groups. A total of 59 patients completed the study. Mean Hct increased during dialysis in both groups. The intradialytic increase in Hct was significantly greater in the high vs. the low UF group (3.2% vs. 1.28%, P = 0.01), with a significantly higher end‐dialysis Hct in the high UF group (40.5% vs. 38%, P = 0.02). At the end of dialysis, both high shear rate WBV (P < 0.01) and low shear rate WBV (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in the high UF compared with the low UF group. There was an approximately two‐fold greater increase in high shear rate (P < 0.01) and low shear rate (P = 0.01) WBV during dialysis in high vs. low UF groups. The increase in high shear rate WBV during dialysis was significantly correlated with an increase in Hct (R² = 0.63, P < 0.01). We found that hemodialysis UF causes a surge in WBV. The surge was of greater magnitude in high than in low UF patients.     

Channel prediction for precoded spatial multiplexing multiple-input multiple-output systems in time-varying fading channels

Conventional precoded spatial multiplexing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems using limited feedback are mainly based on the notion of time invariant channels throughout transmission. Consequently, the precoding matrix can be found during the training symbols and used over the subsequent data symbols. In this study, the authors consider a more practical system where the channel varies from one block of symbols to another. In such a scenario, the precoding matrix designed at the receiver based on the previous training symbols becomes outdated, which results in significant system performance degradation. In order to avoid this problem and reduce performance degradation, the authors propose the use of a Kalman filter linear predictor at the receiver to provide the transmitter with the precoding matrix for the next block of symbols. The performance of this method is assessed using computer simulation, and the obtained results for the proposed channel prediction demonstrate improved bit error rate performance for time-varying Rayleigh fading channels.     

Effect of Ag micro-particles content on the mechanical strength of the interface formed between Sn–Zn binary solder and Au/Ni/Cu bond pads

In this study, addition of Ag micro-particles with a content in the range between 0 and 4 wt.% to a Sn–Zn eutectic solder, were examined in order to understand the effect of Ag additions on the microstructural and mechanical properties as well as the thermal behavior of the composite solder formed. The shear strengths and the interfacial reactions of Sn–Zn micro-composite eutectic solders with Au/Ni/Cu ball grid array (BGA) pad metallizations were systematically investigated. Three distinct intermetallic compound (IMC) layers were formed at the solder interface of the Au/electrolytic Ni/Cu bond pads with the Sn–Zn composite alloys. The more Ag particles that were added to the Sn–Zn solder, the more Ag–Zn compound formed to thicken the uppermost IMC layer. The dissolved Ag–Zn IMCs formed in the bulk solder redeposited over the initially formed interfacial Au–Zn IMC layer, which prevented the whole IMC layer lifting-off from the pad surface. Cross-sectional studies of the interfaces were also conducted to correlate with the fracture surfaces.     

Low voltage low power 8-bit folding/interpolating ADC with rail-to-rail input range

A new technique for improving the performance of low-voltage folding ADC’s by extending the input range is presented. It is shown that by using both PMOS and NMOS differential pairs in the folding blocks, the overall input voltage range of the ADC can be increased to rail-to-rail. A novel self-adjustment method is also introduced to compensate for the different input–output characteristics of PMOS and NMOS differential pairs. A low voltage 8-bit 80 MSample/s folding/interpolating ADC is then designed and fabricated in a 0.18 μm CMOS process. Operating with a supply voltage as low as 1.2 V, measurements show an INL below ±0.55 LSB, SNDR of 43.5 dB at 80 MHz Sampling Frequency and power dissipation of only 30 mW.     

Model prediction of the ESCR of semicrystalline polyethylene: Effects of melt cooling rate

The effects of melt cooling rate on the morphology and environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) of a commercial‐grade high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) were investigated by DSC, WAXS, Raman spectroscopy, DMTA, microhardness, and standard Bell test. The results showed exclusion of short chain branches from the crystallites leading to their perfection by decrease in the melt cooling rate. Accordingly, samples' ESCR increased because of the aforementioned crystal thickening. In addition, quantitative evaluation of crystal strength was performed for the first time by microhardness technique. Crystal strength or the required energy for plastic deformation of unit area of the crystals, Δh·?_c, complemented crystal thickening hypothesis. The product of Δh and average crystal thickness, ?_c, was also proportional with storage modulus of the samples at ESCR test temperature. The evaluation of the results using the recently proposed model based on the analogy of crack growth through amorphous phase of semicrystalline polymers in harsh environments with crack growth at adhesive polymer–substrate interfaces showed reasonably good correlation. Finally, the comparison of literature and current research data based on the new model delineated new directions for phenomenon generalization. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Synthesis,characterization, and anticorrosive coating properties of waterborne interpenetrating polymer network based on epoxy‐acrylic‐oleic acid with butylated melamine formaldehyde

The present study reports the synthesis and characterization of waterborne interpenetrating network (IPN) of epoxy‐acrylic‐oleic acid (EpAcO) with butylated melamine formaldehyde (BMF). The effect of BMF on the formation of IPN was investigated in terms of physicochemical, spectral, morphological, and thermal analyses. The coating properties of the IPN were investigated for their physicomechanical, corrosion resistance, and antimicrobial activity. The formation of the IPN was confirmed by FTIR and ¹H NMR analyses as well as physicochemical properties. The EpAcO‐BMF IPN coatings were found to exhibit far superior corrosion resistance performance and good thermal stability when compared with the reported waterborne epoxy acrylic‐melamine formaldehyde systems [EpAc‐MF]. The preliminary antimicrobial investigations of the IPNs were carried out by agar diffusion method against some bacteria and fungi. The results revealed that antimicrobial activities were enhanced upon the formation of IPN. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

A hexapod-based machine tool with hybrid structure: Kinematic analysis and trajectory planning

This paper shows kinematic analysis and trajectory planning for a novel machine tool structure consisting of a six degree-of-freedom hexapod machine and a two-degree-of-freedom rotary table. Accordingly, to operate the proposed machine tool, eight coordinates should be defined. Since a conventional part programming can define at the most five axes, the three remaining coordinates should be defined by using appropriate trajectory planning. An analytical model is developed that defines the relationships among the parameters in the proposed structure. A rule-based model is also developed to select the redundant coordinates without going through any complex and time-consuming calculations.